Gus Gil
| Gus Gil | |
|---|---|
| Infielder | |
| Born: April 19, 1939 Caracas, Venezuela |
|
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 11, 1967 for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 30, 1971 for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .186 |
| Hits | 87 |
| Runs batted in | 37 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Tomás Gustavo "Gus" Gil Guillén (born April 19, 1939 in Caracas, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball player.[1] He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman for the Cleveland Indians (1967), Seattle Pilots (1969), and Milwaukee Brewers (1970-1971).
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[edit] Playing career
Gil was a sure-handed fielder with a career fielding percentage that was 8 points higher than the league average over the span of his playing career.[1] Unfortunately, like many infielders of his time, Gil was a light hitter, and his major league career coincided with what has been called the second deadball era, when batting averages and run production in both leagues were at an unusually low level.[2] He was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cincinnati Reds in 1959.[3] He spent the next seven seasons playing in the minor leagues before being purchased by the Indians in 1966.[4] He joined the Indians' major league club in 1967, at the age of 27.[1]
Career highlights include a game-tying, 2-run pinch hit double in the top of the ninth inning against the New York Yankees, then scored to put the Pilots ahead to stay, winning 5–4 (June 14, 1969),[5] a walk-off, 2-run double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth for the Brewers as they came from behind and defeated the Minnesota Twins, 4–3 (June 23, 1970),[6] drove in both Milwaukee runs with a pair of sacrifice flies in a 2–1 win over the Kansas City Royals (July 5, 1970),[7] hit the only home run of his major league career, a solo shot against Chicago White Sox left-hander Jim Magnuson (August 5, 1970).[8] In the 1970 Caribbean Series, he hit .387, scored four runs, and had a series-leading seven RBI, to help the Magallanes win the series, marking the first time a Venezuelan team had won the Caribbean title. In the 1973 Caribbean Series, Gil earned a spot on the series' All-Star team.
[edit] Career statistics
In a four-year major league career, Gil played in 221 games, accumulating 87 hits in 468 at bats for a .186 career batting average along with 1 home run, 37 runs batted in and an on base percentage of .272.[1] His performance as a fielder was much better, with 186 putouts, 192 assists and 36 double plays, but only 5 errors out of 383 total chances for a .982 fielding percentage.[1] After his playing career, he served as manager for the Aguilas del Zulia in the Venezuelan Winter League in 1979.[9] He also managed the Danville Suns in 1982, and the Bluefield Orioles in 1990 and 1991.[10][11][12]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Gus Gil at Baseball Reference". Baseball-reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gilgu01.shtml. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ "1968: Year of the Pitcher". thisgreatgame.com. http://www.thisgreatgame.com/1968.html. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
- ^ "Gus Gil Trades and Transactions". Baseball-almanac.com. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=gilgu01. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ "Gus Gil minor league statistics". Baseball-reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=gil---001tom. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ June 14, 1969 Box Score at Baseball Almanac
- ^ June 23, 1970 Box Score at Baseball Almanac
- ^ July 5, 1970 Box Score at Baseball Almanac
- ^ August 5, 1970 Box Score at Baseball Almanac
- ^ "Gus Gil managing statistics". Baseball-reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=gil---001tom#standard_managing. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ 1982 Danville Suns at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1990 Bluefield Orioles at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1991 Bluefield Orioles at Baseball Reference
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- Retrosheet
- People from Caracas
- Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
- Major League Baseball infielders
- Cleveland Indians players
- Milwaukee Brewers players
- Seattle Pilots players
- Geneva Redlegs players
- Missoula Timberjacks players
- Seattle Rainiers players
- Columbia Reds players
- Macon Peaches players
- San Diego Padres (minor league) players
- Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
- Portland Beavers players
- Evansville Triplets players
- Oklahoma City 89ers players
- Denver Bears players
- Hawaii Islanders players
- Albuquerque Dukes players
- Minor league baseball managers
- 1939 births
- Living people
